Tuesday, December 27, 2016

by Lee AckermanFairmont, Minn. - For a
number of years, Fairmont Speedway in Fairmont, Minnesota held an All Star
race. The 1977 version of this race was actually held in June and was called
the All Star 6000. That inaugural event seemed to be in the capable hands of
Estherville, Iowa’s Bob Shryock. Shryock started on the outside of the front
row and led for 39 laps, apparently headed for the win, but along came Council
Bluff, Iowa’s Bill Martin.

Martin started on the inside
of the fifth row and gradually worked his way through the field where he could
challenge the leaders. Coming out of turn four on the 40th and last lap he
edged ahead of Shryock and picked up the win by the slimmest of margins. It was
Martin’s first Fairmont appearance in four years. Shryock would settle for second,
Willy Kraft was third, Dan Nesteby took fourth and Dick Schiltz finished fifth.

In September of 1978, more than
80 Late Models returned to Fairmont for the second All Star race. Eight races
were contested on September 21, with heat race wins going to: Bob Hill, Jerry Holtkamp,
Bob Shryock, Arnie Braland, Les Staedel, Bob Saterdalen, Ted Zieman and Jack
Harder.

The following night, September 22, a trophy dash, two
consolation races and two semi-mains would take place and then it was time for the 40-lap
finale. What ensued was a three-car battle. Bob Hill would start on the
pole and lead the first 25 laps. On lap six, the red flag waved as Shryock
tried to pass Holtkamp on the high side for second. Shryock slid off the track
between turns one and two. He would tag on the back of the pack and have to make his way
back to the front.

Meanwhile, Hill, Holtkamp and
Dave Bjorge continued to wage war up front with Holtkamp making the pass on
Hill for the lead on lap 26. Holtkamp would hold on for the win with Bjorge passing
Hill for second. The three were never more than a car length or two apart
during the entire 40 laps. Gary Crawford finished fourth with Shryock racing
his way back to fifth.

1979 would see another huge
field of Late Models descend upon Fairmont for the 3rd Annual All Star Race.
The event, once again required eight heat races to be ran on opening night with
wins going to Bill Martin, Arnie Braland, Jerry Wancewicz, Jim Bruggeman, Em
Fretheim, Steve Egersdorf, Denny Selting and Al Druesdow. The first night
feature (first and second place finishers in the heat races) went to Bill
Martin followed by Gary Crawford, Jim Bruggeman, Steve Egersdorf and Clayton
Petersen, Jr.

After position races and
consolation races the second night, the field was set for the 40-lap All-Star
10,000. Jerry Wancewicz and Bill Martin started on the front row and exchanged
the lead early on in the race. But the man on the move was Gary Crawford, who
had started in the fifth row, but by lap 10 Crawford took the lead and ran unchallenged for the rest of race.

Clayton Petersen, Jr. moved
up to take second with Dick Schiltz third, Wancewicz fourth and Martin fifth.
The drive of the night was put on by Schiltz. He started in the fourth row of
the second consolation race and won. Then he started in the back of his semi
and got all the way up to second behind Bob Hill to grab the 24th starting
position in the A-main. Schiltz would proceed
to drive through the field again to grab the third spot at the end.

If Dick Schiltz left a lasting
impression on race fans at the All-Star race in 1979, he would leave a bigger
impression on them the following year. After winning his heat and the feature
on Thursday night, Schiltz returned for the final night’s action (which ran on
Sunday after Saturday night’s program was washed out) and continued to
dominate.

Dick Schiltz won the 1980 All-Star event at Fairmont. - John Vass Photo

First, he won the Sun Dash
and a check for $500. Then in the feature event, he quickly grabbed the lead
and sailed into the sunset as they say. Schiltz built up as much as a half-lap
lead at times and came home an easy winner, pocketing $2,200 for the win. Early
contenders Bob Hill and Bob Shryock fell out with engine problems. Other
starters had a hard time dealing with the dry track surface. Following Schiltz
to the win were Jerry Holtkamp, Bill Martin, Denny Hovinga and Em Fretheim.

In 1981, it was the All-Star
15,000 and there would be a repeat winner, but it would not be without a bit of
controversy. Dave Bjorge would lead time trials with a clocking of 19.56 second
with Jerry Holtkamp at 19.83. The remaining 40 drivers would all trip the timer
at over 20 seconds.

Bjorge and Holtkamp had the
two fastest times and started on the front row for the feature.Holtkamp grabbed the lead with Bjorge close
behind. At the mid-point of the race Gary Pedersen’s hood came off with the
assistant flagman throwing the yellow and the flagman leaving the green
displayed. This caused Holtkamp to slow down just enough to let Bjorge by.
Other positions were scrambled as well.

The race ran several laps
more laps and then a car spun out. At this time, the lead was handed back to
Holtkamp with the laps ran counting and the other position changes left alone.
Holtkamp held off Bjorge the remainder of the race and picked up $2,500 for the
win. After the race, Promoter Jim Edgington met with Holtkamp and Bjorge and
then confirmed Holtkamp as the winner. Following Holtkamp and Bjorge to the
line were Craig Jacobs, Denny Osborn and Lynn Idler.

In earlier action, Bjorge,
Holtkamp, Dwaine Hanson and Bob Hill won heats with Bob Shryock picking up the
Sundrop Dash, Bob Hesch the consolation event and Willy Kraft the semi.

If Dave Bjorge left Fairmont
disappointed in 1981, he did not in 1982. Already a winner in other specials
held at the Fairmont Speedway in 1982, Bjorge won his heat, the position race
for the pole and the 40-lap feature as well as a check for $3,000.

Nearly 70 Late Models were on
hand for the sixth edition of the All-Star race with heat race wins going to
Bill Christman, Craig Jacobs, Phil Gadbois, Bjorge, Bob Hill and Roger Tapper.
Dave Knott won the C feature and Dick Schilitz the B main.

As for the feature, Bjorge
grabbed the lead at the outset and was never headed. Bob Shryock winner of the
second place position race would be his closest competition and he would finish
second. Mike Smith, Tapper and Em Freitheim rounded out the top five.

The 1982 All-Star race would be the last but during the six-year run of the event, it provided Southern Minnesota and Northern Iowa race fans with some outstanding racing.

Tuesday, December 6, 2016

Des
Moines, Iowa (December 6, 1964) Dick Hutcherson of Keokuk, Iowa
combined his own charging style with the amazing stamina of a 1964 Ford to win
29 feature events and National Championship honors on the International Motor
Contest Association late model stock car circuit.

Hutcherson, who successfully defended his
1963 title position, earned in prize money alone a total of $21,360 plus a $2,415
share of the IMCA point and current late model fund bringing Dick’s overall
winnings during 1964 to a healthy $24,175.

He also tallied 3,760 championship points on
the circuit - 918 better than second place finisher Ramo Stott, also of Keokuk, Iowa.
Perennial front-runner and five-time national champion Ernie Derr ended the
season in third place. He and Stott both drove new “hemi-head” Plymouths during
1964.

A reasoned veteran at 33 years of age,
“Hutch” has been competing with IMCA since 1959 He was no novice to the speed
sport when he joined the association. In fact, he put in several top years of
modified competition in Iowa
and was Keokuk champ in 1956 and 1958. He has never finished lower than third in
the IMCA point standings during those six years.

Hutcherson at present is working at the
Holman andMoody plant in Charlotte.
N. C, preparing a 1965 Ford for combat on the upcoming IMCA schedule which will
get under way at Shreveport,
La., in April.

Tuesday, November 29, 2016

Du Quoin,
Ill. – During the 1960’s the USAC
stock cars at the Du Quoin State Fairgrounds provided thousands of fans with
many memorable races. The 1970’s, however, provided their version of what made
this annual Labor Day Weekend event so special.

Norm
Nelson of Racine, Wis., who at age 47 was trying to quit driving
but would get behind the steering wheel when his driver, Roger McCluskey, was
not available, would win his record fourth Du Quoin 100-mile stock car
championship on September
7, 1970.

Nelson
had also won at Du Quoin in 1960, 1963 and 1967 and thus became the first four-time
champion at Du Quoin. Nelson, driving car #1, a 1969 Plymouth Roadrunner; Jack Bowsher in # 2, a
1970 Ford Torino; and Don White in # 3, a 1969 Dodge Charger, dominated the
early stages of the race.

Nelson
led for the first 29 laps until White collared him on the east straightaway and
took the lead.

On
the 46th lap J. C. Klotz flipped in the south turn and made a sensational upright
landing atop the guard rail. Several cars took advantage of the yellow flag caution
period to make pit stops and Nelson emerged in front again at lap No. 47. He
was never headed, again.

The
race produced two Du Quoin race records of $31,930 in total purse and 19,948 in
paid attendance. Nelson collected $6,066 for his victory and added 200 points to
his total in his quest for a national title. The winning time of 1 hour, 21
minutes and 3.4 seconds (84.438 miles per hour) could not match the 1:09:50.42
clocking for Don White in 1966, however, as 23 laps were run under the caution
flag.

Verlin Eaker of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, would be the surprise winner at Du Quoin in 1971.

A
near capacity crowd of 17,500 stock car race fans sat quietly through almost 90
laps on Sunday afternoon, September 6, 1971, then rose to its feet for a roaring
finish in which nobody knew who the winner was.

Verlin
Eaker of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, driving a 1971 Plymouth, was announced as the winner even
though he finished third behind Don White and Lem Blankenship of Keokuk, Iowa.

Confusion
at the finish had been caused by three caution slowdowns of about five laps each
on the 25th, 71st and 82nd laps. Jack Bowsher
of Springfield, Ohio, driving a 1971 Ford, had led
throughout the race and had pulled away more than half a lap in front.

After
the third caution period, both White and Blankenship again were running almost
on Bowsher’s tailpipe. On the 90th lap, White passed Bowsher to take
the lead. Two laps later White went wide in the north turn and Bowsher and Blankenship
both passed him.

Hitting
the north turn on the next lap, leader Bowsher blew his right rear tire and was
forced to go to the pits. White led until Blankenship passed him on the 98th
lap only to have White speed by Blankenship on the north turn of the last lap
and cross the finish line first.

Confused?

After
some conversation, USAC officials ruled Eaker was the first driver to make his
mandatory pit stop during the first caution period. He then apparently had
gained a lap on the rest of the field in subsequent pit stops by other drivers.
Thus, he was the first to complete 100 miles even though he running third at
the time.

Eaker,
who had claimed the pole with a qualifying time of 39.24 seconds (91.743 miles
per hour), earned $5,821 out of the total purse of $30,642. White got $3,983 for
second and Blankenship grabbed $2,757 for third. Eaker’s winning time of 1
hour, 10 minutes and 56 seconds was good for an average speedof 84.586
miles per hour.

A
disappointed Bowsher was credited with seventh but long after the crowd had
filed out, he was dropped to 30th and last position. It was reported
that his crew had made an illegal tire change after time trials.

There would be no confusion, no discrepancies or discussion
when the checkers flew at Du Quoin on September 4, 1972. Jack Bowsher made sure of
that…

Bowsher
would set a new qualifying record in the time trials then easily won the
caution-free 100-mile stock car race on Sunday afternoon before 15,721 racing
fans.

Bowsher
piloted his Ford Torino to a 36.41 second clocking for a new USAC dirt track
record of 98.874 miles per hour to claim the pole. Then in the race he seized
the lead and held it comfortably for 30 laps before making the one mandatory
pit stop required in the race.

The
pit stop allowed Butch Hartman of Zanesville, Ohio, driving a Dodge, to take
the lead and hold it until the 76th lap. Hartman had previously made
his mandatory earlier and then had to make an unplanned second stop on the same circuit to change his right rear tire.

That
second stop cost Hartman the lead as Bowsher zoomed back in front. The Springfield, Ohio,
veteran had lapped the whole field except for Hartman and there was no doubt
about the winner.

Bowsher’s
time of 1 hour, 52 minutes and 34 seconds set a new track record (95.432 miles
per hour) for a 100-mile race at Du Quoin. Bowsher collected $5,522 of the
$29,065 purse. Hartman would settle for second and a payday of $3,778. The
all-Iowa trio of Don White, Ramo Stott, and defending race winner Verlin Eaker
would round out the top five.

Editor’s note: The field of 28 starters
included eight Dodges, seven each of Plymouth
and Ford, and six Chevrolets.

The
1973 event would start three consecutive years of domination by one driver;
Larry “Butch” Hartman.

Hartman
would beat 49-year-old Norm Nelson for the win on Sunday, September 3, leading
98 of the 100 laps. Pole winner Jack Bowsher (lap 1) and Nelson (lap 76) were
the only drivers credited with leading a circuit.

Hartman,
driving a 1973 Dodge, ran the 100 miles in 1 hour, 8 minute and 4.65 seconds.
He averaged 88.156 miles per hour and beat Nelson by only three seconds.
Hartman earned $5,077 for his win while Nelson claimed $3,662.

Following
Hartman and Nelson across the finish line were Ernie Derr of Keokuk, Iowa, in a
’72 Dodge, Derr’s brother-in-law, Don White, in a ‘73 Dodge and Ramo Stott in a
‘73 Charger. A total of 13 of the 30 starters finished the race.

The
defending winner, Bowsher, left the race on the 21st lap when he hit
the fence in the backstretch. He was credited with 21st in the race.

Hartman
would give a repeat performance on September 1, 1974, and so would Norm Nelson.
Hartman would pass Nelson on the 96th lap to win the 100-mile USAC
stock car race at Du Quoin. Hartman averaged 90.248 miles per hour in his 1974
Dodge. The race was run in 1 hour, six minutes and 29 seconds.

Nelson,
the now 50-year-old grandfather, would settle for the runner-up role once again
driving a Plymouth.
He was followed by Davenport,
Iowa’s Terry Ryan in a Chevrolet,
Ernie Derr in a Dodge and Irv Janey of Cedar
Rapids, Iowa, in a
Dodge.

Ryan,
the fast qualifier of the day, led the first 11 laps. Nelson led laps 12 to 69.
Ryan led on lap 70 and Nelson regained the lead and held on until lap 96 when
he was overtaken by Hartman.

Butch Hartman would dominate the USAC stock car scene at Du Quoin from 1973 to 1975.

Hartman
had a dream the night before winning his third straight Du Quoin race on August 23, 1975.

“Just
recently my son died of diabetes, my father of a heart attack and a very close
friend in an auto accident. I got to thinking about that saying that things
happen in threes.”

“Then
I got to thinking about having won the 100-mile stock car race at Du Quoin the
last two years. Why not make, it three, I dreamed,” said the mud-spattered
Hartman after his victory before a slim 8,137 crowd on Saturday.

The
leading stock car driver of the 1975 USAC circuit dreamed well as he won the
100-mile event in the slow time of 1 hour, 11 minutes and 13 seconds for a
speed of 84.250 miles per hour.

Only
15 of the 30 starters were running at the finish and Du Quoin State Fair
officials were happy so many ran so long. Dust had erased the 50-mile midget
event Friday and threatened to do the same to the stock cars on Saturday.

“I
never saw the track until I saw the checkered flag,” quipped Hartman of the
race run in a dust fog.

While
Hartman dreamed of threes, Du Quoin State Fair president Bill Hayes and track
superintendent Bob Green dreamed of twos.

“We
can’t have two straight races stopped by dust,” pondered Hayes during the time trials
when dust did appear to be heavy in the straightaway leaving the north turn.

“I
was up all night putting water on the track,” said Green. “I don’t have much
pep left.”

The
heavy dust threatened to stop the race at the start as the USAC officials
whipped out the caution flag on the very first lap. They were back on the green
flag at the fourth lap

Jack
Bowsher, who won the pole in his Ford with a time of 38.36 seconds, led for 13
laps until Hartman took the lead with Irv Janey passing Bowsher for second
position on the 17th lap.

A
caution flag on lap 30 sent Hartman to the pits for the one mandatory pit stop.
Ramo Stott, Jim Scott, and Don White kept up front for several laps until Stott
went high in the north turn on lap 49 as Hartman forged ahead. Hartman led the
race to the finish as Sal Tovella finished second in what could have been a
surprise ending.

The
race went smoothly until the 98th lap when Mark Dinsmore, the
slowest of the 30 qualifiers who started the race, spun into the rail on the
east side of the track to bring a caution flag.

The
caution period gave runner-up Tovella time to get on Hartman’s bumper before
the last lap but Hartman held his lead to win by 20 yards.

Bay
Darnell of Deerfield, Ill., would break the Hartman stranglehold on the August 28, 1976, as he took
the first prize of $3,711.

Darnell
took the lead on the 79th lap and held on to win in 1 hour, 4
minutes and 58 seconds.A total of 27
cars started the race and 14 finished.

Five different
drivers held the lead at one time or another. Pole sitter Jack Bowsher led the
first 16 laps before the day’s lone caution occurred. Bowsher would use the
slowdown and bring his car into the pits, giving the top spot to Butch Hartman,
who had started seventh.

Action
resumed on lap 20 and Hartman continued to lead the way until the 46th
mile when Darnell took over for two circuits. Hartman regained control only to
have Darnel take over again on lap 52.

Hartman
took the upper hand on the 68th mile, but his lead was short-lived
as Steve Drake of Bloomington,
Ill., took charge on the very
next lap. Two miles later, Terry Ryan of Davenport,
Iowa, became the fifth driver to
lead the event.

However,
Darnell would take over for good one mile later and went on to take his second
career USAC stock car victory. Don White would finish second, followed by Paul
Feldner of Richfield, Wis., Hartman, and Ken Rowley of El Paso, Ill.

Paul Feldner waves to the crowd during his victory lap at Du Quoin in 1977.

Paul
Feldner couldn’t have picked a better place for his first USAC Stock car win,
when he would win the 100-miler at Du Quoin on August 27, 1977. Feldner averaged 73.968 miles per hour which
took 1 hour and 21 minutes to complete. Feldner earned $4,100 of the $23,000
purse.

Feldner,
piloting a Dodge, started on the front row, but the opening stages were
dominated by a pair of Volare’s, driven by Ramo Stott and Ken Rowley. Stott grabbed
the initial lead but gave up the top spot to Rowley on lap 15. Stott would
regain the point a lap later and stay in front until the 28th mile
when he crashed into the turn one wall, ending his day. A broken A-frame was
later determined to be the cause of Stott’s misfortune.

Feldner
inherited the top spot but had little time to establish any kind of advantage
when another caution slowed the field on lap 37. Feldner elected to make a pit
stop during the yellow flag and Rowley took over first place when the green was
waved on lap 40.

Rowley’s
afternoon would end when he spun his car on lap 53 and tagged the turn three
wall. Kevin Housby, running behind Rowley, one lap down, slammed into Rowley’s
machine, thus ending both drivers’ day.

Rowley’s
departure handed first place to Charlie Glotzbach of Sellersburg, Ind.,
who brought his Charger into the pits while still under yellow, turning the
lead back over to Feldner as they went green on lap 55.

Feldner,
his Charger running to perfection, opened up a comfortable advantage, and
despite a couple more cautions, would stretch his lead to half a straightaway
when the checkers waved. Sal Tovella, who started 17th in the 28-car
field, finished an impressive second, while Jim Hurlbert of Mahomet, Ill.,
took third.

Don White is interviewed in victory lane by Mike Lee after winning at Du Quoin in 1978.

Bay
Darnell would be the first to cross the finish line at Du Quoin but it was Don
White who would be in victory lane following the 100-miler on August 26, 1978,

Gary
Bowsher’s spin on lap 97 necessitated a yellow flag. With the green scheduled
to return for the final lap, Darnell charged ahead of White as the two
frontrunners brought the field around for the start of the 100th
mile.

Darnell’s
actions didn’t go unnoticed by USAC officials and although the Deerfield, Ill.,
chauffeur took the checkers first, he was penalized one position for passing
the leader prior to the green flag, giving the White the win.

Ramo
Stott had dominated the early part of the program, touring the mile in 37.24
seconds (96.670 miles per hour) during qualifying to grab the pole. He would
lead the first 29 miles before pitting, allowing Joe Ruttman to take over.

Sal
Tovella would replace Ruttman in the top spot on lap 32 and hold that lead
until lap 41 when Stott crashed into the outside guardrail bringing out the
yellow. Tovella would pit during the yellow flag allowing Darnell, who had
started second, to claim first place on lap 43.On lap 47, White accounted for the final lead change when he sped around
Darnell.

White’s
victory was the first of the year for the Keokuk, Iowa, veteran and increased his career total
to 53. Darnell was credited with second, ahead of Terry Ryan, Tom Bigelow (who
started 21st) and Tovella.

Rusty Wallace of St. Louis, Mo., would win the 1979 contest at Du Quoin.

It
was “A.J. Foyt Day” in Du Quoin,
Ill., on August 25, 1979, but the day
really belonged to Rusty Wallace of St.
Louis, Mo., as the
23-year-old driving star bested Foyt and a field of 22 other USAC stock cars to
win the annual 100-miler.

The
victory was the first for Wallace on the USAC circuit and paid $4,629 from a
total purse of $27,069.

Foyt,
who was honored by Du Quoin area merchants prior to the day’s racing, set fast
time, touring the well-groomed mile in 37.13 seconds, earning the pole
position.

It
was Bay Darnell, who started alongside Foyt, darting into the lead at the start
of the contest and built himself a straightaway advantage by the midpoint of
the race. Darnell would pit during a lap 49 caution allowing Don White to take
over the top spot on the 50th round.

White
would hold the lead for only a couple of laps when Joe Ruttman spun in turn one
bringing out another caution on lap 54. On lap 57, Wallace would blast past
White on the restart to take the lead.

With
his 1979 Firebird performing better than earlier in the day and no more
cautions to slow his pace, Wallace led the rest of the way to pick up the win.
Don White would settle for second, Bay Darnell would take third, Foyt would
grab fourth and Sal Tovella would round out the top five.

Sal Tovella would win at Du Quoin in 1980. - Todd Healy Photo

It
would require 101 laps, but Sal Tovella would finally score his first ever Du
Quoin victory on August
23, 1980.

The
reason for the extra lap in the scheduled 100-mile race was an Alan Kulwicki
crash on lap 98, which brought out the red flag. Since the race was restarted
under the yellow, its distance was increased to 101 laps because of USAC rules
stating the last two laps of any race had to be under green.

Tovella
took home $4,946 out of a total purse of $26,929. Joe Ruttman, the fastest
qualifier, finished second followed by Terry Ryan. Those three drivers were the
only ones to finish on the lead lap.

Dean
Roper would grab the lead from his outside front row position until Ruttman
took over on the sixth mile. Rusty Wallace would take charge on lap 19 until
Ryan became the fourth different frontrunner on the 22nd mile.

Wallace
would account for the race’s first caution when he slammed his Firebird into
the turn three wall on lap 25. Pit stops under the yellow resulted in Kulwicki
leading laps 26 and 27 before Tovella took over on 28th try around
the mile dirt oval.

The
lead would never change hands again as Tovella demonstrated his superiority,
dominating the race despite another five additional cautions.

Dean Roper would win the 1981 Du Quoin 100-miler.

Dean
Roper of Fair Grove, Mo., would win the USAC stock car race at Du
Quoin on August 29, 1981,
much the same way as Tovella did; having to go a few extra laps.

The
event was slated for 75 miles but was extended to 79 when a late caution
enforced the rule that the field had to run the last three circuits under
green.

For
Roper, it was his third USAC win of the season, all run on mile ovals, all
three on dirt surfaces. Sal Tovella, the defending race winner, took second and
was followed by Kevin Gundaker of St.
Louis and Steve Drake. They were the only drivers to
finish on the lead lap.

Lem
Blankenship of Keokuk, Iowa, who won the first qualifying heat to
earn the pole position, led the first 13 laps of main event before fellow
townsman Don White guided his Aspen
into the top spot. White continued to pace the field at the halfway point until
a caution came out on lap 50 for a spin by Herb Shannon of Peoria, Ill.

White
would continue to pace the field after all out action resumed, but would
eventually join Ken Schrader, Rick O’ Brien, Rick Hanley and Tony Emralino in a
multi-car accident on the 62nd circuit. The wreck retired the front-running
White and second place Schrader giving Roper command of the top spot.

The
event’s final yellow came on lap 71 when Blankenship, Dave Bruggink and Ken
Rowley tangled in turn three. It took until lap 77 before action could resume
under green and Roper warded off Tovella for the win.

Rick O'Brien would win his first career USAC-sanctioned stock car event at Du Quoin in 1982.

Rick
O’Brien of Peoria, Ill., would score his first USAC stock car
victory at Du Quoin on September 5, 1982. O’Brien took the top spot on lap 96
when Ramo Stott drifted high and wide as the pair negotiated turns three and
fur running side by side.

Driving
a Buick Regal, O’Brien led the remaining three laps to score the triumph and
earn $5,808 from a total purse of $33,000. Stott would settle for second while
Joe Wallace of Kansas City
took third, giving Regal pilots a clean sweep of the top three positions. Dean
Roper (Grand Prix) and Marv Smith (Regal) of Newark, Ohio,
were fourth and fifth.

Bay
Darnell was the fastest qualifier at 96.850 miles per hour ad led the first 11
laps from his pole position. Butch Garner of Forsyth, Ill., would pass Darnell and rule the next
dozen laps before Roper took charge on lap 24.

Stott
moved in front on the 30th mile except for lap 58, which was paced by Darnell,
stayed in front until O’ Brien got the upper hand in the waning laps.

The USAC stock car division had been slowly losing its
luster over the past few years with the ’82 event only able to field 21 cars. The
once-popular division was on its last legs but wanted to keep its flailing
division going at Du Quoin as long as they could. In 1983 and ‘84, they would partner
with ARCA in order to attract more cars.

At the end of the ’84 season, USAC folded the stock car
division forever, allowing ARCA to take full reigns of the Labor Day Weekend
race at Du Quoin, an event they still hold today.

Monday, November 21, 2016

by Lee AckermanOmaha, Neb. -
In 1954, they built a 1/5th-mile track in Arlington,
Nebraska near the Washington County Fairgrounds. As the track was nearing
completion, a 16-year-old farm boy was helping his dad on the farm and asked
his dad if it was all right if he raced at the new track. His dad said, “I
really don’t care because, I don’t think you will like it.

The farm boy raced at the new track on June 20, 1954,
winning his heat race and the trophy dash before retiring from the feature with
mechanical issues. In 1995, that same farm boy was still racing winning the
Grand National Late Model Championship at Sunset Speedway in Omaha. In between,
Bill Wrich put a lot of miles on going to racetracks around the Midwest, and he
won a lot of races.

Bill finished fourth in the points that first year at
Arlington, and twice scored clean sweeps winning his heat, the trophy dash and
the feature. In 1956, Bill and wife Joyce even planned their marriage so they
wouldn’t miss a race at Arlington. They got married on a Tuesday, took a quick
honeymoon to Colorado and were back in time for the races at Arlington on
Sunday night.

Bill Wrich in the early days of his racing career. - Photo courtesy of Lee Ackerman

In 1957, Bill won the track championship at Arlington. In
1958 while leading the point race by a large margin, he decided to switch
tracks and run at Onawa, Iowa, he still finished second in points at Arlington
without running the last several races.

In 1961, he dominated racing in the Omaha area winning the
track championship at Playland Park in Council Bluffs, Iowa and sharing the
track championship at Sunset Speedway in Omaha with Bud Burdick. On Labor Day
Weekend 1962, Skylark Raceway in Columbus (then a hot-bed of coupe racing) held
the “Five State Mid-States Championship.” Fifty-Three cars from five states
competed in the race and Bill, without ever racing at the track before, come
away with the victory.

In 1964 driving No. 8-Ball car, Bill decided to try out the
competition at a new track in Sioux City called Soos Speedway, built over a
ballpark. After winning several weeks in a row, he was encouraged by the locals
to find somewhere else to race. He also continued to race occasionally at
Sunset Speedway during this time.

In 1966, Al Hadan, owner of Sunset Speedway built a 1934
Willy’s to race. “It was an interesting car.” remembered Bill. “We found a
Willy’s frame along the banks of the Platte River and dug it out. The first
night out we won both features, after that the frame seemed to get weaker and
it just never raced well.“ said Wrich.

In 1968, Bill teamed with legendary Harlan, Iowa mechanical
whiz, Dale Swanson and the results were nothing short of spectacular. Driving
the legendary No. 55 Swanson Chevy, they won almost every feature at Denison,
Iowa that year and ran away with the track championship. They also won several
races at Harlan and took the track championship there as well.

In 1969, driving the No. 180 car for Tom Gawley, Bill
continued his winning ways and finished second at Harlan and was named the
track’s top driver. The pair also won a number of events at the Iowa State
Fairgrounds in Des Moines, including a last lap pass to claim the bounty put on
local star Don Hoffman. In 1969, Bill also claimed his second track
championship at Sunset Speedway.

1969 was also the year of Bill’s most memorable win, that
coming at the Shelby County Speedway in Harlan, Iowa. Bill was cruising along
when his left front wheel came off. Instead of dropping out of the race though,
Bill just kept going. Bill backed off the gas and limped around the turns, then
as he was coming off the turn, he’d hit the gas enough to keep the front
wheel-less left front hub just a few inches off the ground until he got into
the next corner. He did that for three laps and WON!

In 1970, Bill won the “Speedway Invitational” at Sunset in
his back-up car. He raced at Harlan on Friday nights, Des Moines on Saturday
night and Sunset on Sunday night. In 1971, due to the success he was having, he
was in the running for a ride in a Junior Johnson car, but things didn’t work
out and the ride went to a driver from South Carolina named Cale Yarborough,
who went on to win three NASCAR Cup Championships in the ride.

The 70’s saw Bill spending time campaigning in the IMCA fair
circuit and with USAC. Bill won IMCA Stock Car events at the Clay County Fair
in Spencer, Iowa in 1973 and 1977 as well as a couple of other events at
Spencer. He finished fourth in IMCA Stock Car points in 1976 and third in 1977.

On September 10, 1977, his win at Spencer was the last race
every held in the old IMCA Stock Car circuit. Bill also tried racing for a time
at the I-70 Speedway near Odessa, Missouri on the asphalt. Bill said, “the
first time I went down there we won our heat and ran second in the feature. But
that was before the interstate was finished and we had a devil of a time just
getting there.”

Bill Wrich poses in his stock car, 1974 - Kyle Ealy Collection

Bill also campaigned in 1974 and 1975 in several USAC
events. He brought home two top-10’s including a fifth at the Terre Haute
Action Track in Indiana. In looking back, Bill says, “I built my own cars,
because I wanted to race Chevrolets. I should have gone down and bought one
from Bobby Allison, I would have probably been better off.”

He also raced the red No. 54 for Larry Skalberg during this
era, mostly in special events. He won the late model portion of the “Sunset
Classic” called the Triple Crown event, in 1973 and again in 1977.

Being a farmer, Bill said there were times I was too busy or
didn’t have the money to race. “When the cattle market was good, I was back
racing again.” recalled Wrich. In 1995, Sunset Speedway added the Grand
National Late Model class, and it’s first point champion was an old farmer from
Kennard named Bill Wrich. Bill raced the series through 1998 before retiring
from the series.

His last race was at the 2000 “Tiny Lund Memorial” in Harlan,
which was won by his son Dwight in a car prepared by Bill. One thing about Bill
Wrich prepared cars, they usually were very well balanced. Tragically, two
weeks after winning the “Tiny Lund”, Bill’s son Dwight lost his life in a fiery
crash at Denison.

Bill raced one more time, at the legends race at I-80
Speedway in 2005. He started in the sixth row and took the lead on the last lap
to win the race.

Bill was born on July 30, 1956 on a family farm south of
Kennard where he still lives with is wife, Joyce. Their children include;
Debbie Kerber of Blair, Jacque Salerno of Omaha, Gayle Russell of Arlington and
their late son Dwight. The Wrich’s also raised nephews Randy Larsen, who lives
in Arizona and Ricky Larsen of Omaha.

While his racing career is over, and having recently had heart
surgery, I wouldn’t look for him to give up farming to soon. On the other hand,
I do know that that old 1958 Ford hauler that Bill used to haul race cars to
the tracks with since the late 60’s, is still setting in a shed on the family
farm, so who knows.

Writer's note; The above was a story
I wrote about Bill Wrich for Hawkeye Racing News maybe eight or nine years ago.
We just lost Bill and he will be greatly missed by family, friends and
the entire racing community. Bill was one of a kind, no doubt about that.

To update this story,
Bill stayed on the farm and eventually that old Ford Hauler came out of the
shed and carried a beautiful powder blue no. 16 GOTRA car to races across the
area as he raced with the Good Ole Time Racing Association. This past summer
(64 years after his dad told him he didn’t think he’d like racing) he was still
behind the wheel. You know the saying, once a racer always a racer, and Bill
Wrich fit that description to the letter.

I can't speak for anyone else, but next year when GOTRA rolls into a town that I happen to be at, I'm going to miss seeing that old hauler, and the gruff old guy with a jolly laugh that just made you feel better about life

On Monday night, September 2, 1968 it was the true outlaw
himself Gordon Woolley of Waco, Texas winning the inaugural Third Mile
Nationals. Woolley charged passed Lloyd Beckman on the second lap and despite
being challenged most of the race by Beckman, pulled away in the closing laps
for the win. Ray Lee Goodwin was third, Roy McCain was fourth.

Beckman won the dash
and his heat. Other heats went to Lonnie Jensen and John Stevenson. Kenny Gritz
won the Junior Championship (B feature) with a last lap pass of Dutch
Buettenbach.

In 1969, it was veteran Kansas City chauffeur Dick Sutcliffe
behind the wheel of the Gary Hanna Chevy taking the lead almost immediately
from his inside second row starting position and sailing to the win in the 30-lap
feature before a capacity crowd to pick up the $1,250 first place money.

Dick Sutcliffe was the 1969 winner at Eagle

'Little' Joe Saldana
set fast time of 16.26 seconds then broke a driveshaft in his car and borrowed
the car of Frank Brennfoerder, started 8th and put on a great drive to finish
second. Pole sitter Lloyd Beckman finished third followed by Eddie Leavitt in
the Brewer Chevy and Jay Woodside.

Ed Bowes won the Junior Championship (B feature) taking the
lead from Larry Upton when Upton’s
engine expired. Chuck Kidwell and Glenn Robey followed. Second fast qualifier
Lloyd Beckman won the dash and his heat. Lonnie Jensen and Dick Sutcliffe won
the other heats and Roy McCain the B feature.

The 1970 Third Mile Nationals can be described in one word
“Controversial.” Things kicked off on Sunday night with 35 cars taking time and
Lincoln’s
Lonnie Jensen setting fast time at 15.85 followed at 15.99 by Ed Bowes. Heats
went to Kenny Parde, Jerry Everett, Roger Rager and Jim Golden. Dennis Oltman
won the dash with Jan Opperman winning the B. Fast Qualifier Lonnie Jensen was
the victim of a wild flip which eliminated him from further competition.

In the feature which was a total inversion, Beatrice,
Nebraska’s Kenny Parde started deep in the field and drove to a win in the
Junior Third Mile Nationals over Roger Rager, who also started deep in the
field. Pole sitter Dan Holliman would finish third followed by Jim Golden and
Frank Brennfoerder.

On Monday night heats were won by Lonnie Jensen, Jan
Opperman, Ray Lee Goodwin and Denny Oltman. Ed Bowes took the dash over Ray Lee
Goodwin and the "Roarin’ Rebel” Roy McCain won the B.

It was time for the 50-lap Third Mile National feature and
that’s where all the controversy would come in. Lonnie Jensen would start on
the pole but was passed very early on in the going by Ray Lee Goodwin. Goodwin
would soon develop handling problems. The problem which turned out to be a
broken torsion bar slowed Goodwin to a crawl on the backstretch and Jan
Opperman looking to take the lead hooked Goodwin’s tire. This sent Goodwin into
the infield and Opperman setting on the edge of the racetrack.

For whatever reason, the race was allowed to go for a lap
before the yellow came out to check on Opperman, who was apparently shaken in
the incident. When the race was resumed with 17 laps remaining Jensen had the
lead and Opperman was sent to the tail and scored one lap down. Opperman then
stormed through the field passing Jensen on the last lap for what appeared as
the win.

Opperman went to victory lane and Jensen went to the pits.
Then they rolled Jensen’s car back on the track and Larry Swanson, Jensen’s car
owner protested giving the win to Opperman. After a long discussion officials
declared Jensen the winner contending the Opperman had done nothing more than
unlap himself. The ensuing argument lasted well into the morning. “I thought
there was going to be a riot.” remembers long-time racing historian Bob Mays.
“It was really a wild scene.

The official order of finish would be Jensen, Ed Bowes,
Roger Rager, Stan Borofsky and Don Droud with Opperman being scored 8th.

In 1971, it was Topeka’s Dell Schmidt claiming the 30-lap
Junior Championship on Sunday night over Lloyd Beckman, Ray Lee Goodwin, Jay
Woodside and Dennis Oltman. Beckman set fast time of 15.69 seconds for fast
time. Goodwin made a last lap pass of Oltman to win the dash. Beckman, Droud and
J.J. Riggins won heats.

Ray Lee Goodwin held off the challenges of the persistent
Jay Woodside to claim the $1,250 first prize in the 50-lap Third Mile Nationals
on Monday night. Ralph Blackett, Larry Upton and Ken Parde rounded out the top
five. Beckman, Jensen and Oltman all retired early in the race that saw only 9
of the 19 starters finish the race. Jensen won the dash and his heat with other
heat wins going to Beckman, Woodside and Goodwin.

The 1972 Third Mile Nationals would go to an invader in California’s Jimmy Boyd
who picked up a $1,500 pay check. Boyd charged from his 4th row starting
position to claim the win over Beckman, Thad Dosher, Dick Sutcliffe and Gerald
Bruggeman. It was the biggest win of Boyd’s up to that time and one of the
major upsets in Sprint Car Racing. The race saw Don Maxwell eliminated early by
a nasty flip in turn one. Don Droud set fast time at 16.29 seconds. Beckman won
the dash with heats going to Bruggeman, Beckman, Boyd and Droud.

In Sunday nights’ Junior Championship, it was Lonnie Jensen
taking the win over Sutcliffe, Goodwin, Upton and Boyd. Heats went to Roger
Larson, Goodwin, Beckman and Upton with Gordon Woolley winning the B.

Eddie Leavitt would be the last Third Mile Nationals champion in 1973. - Al Major Photo

The 1973 Nationals belonged to Eddie Leavitt. First he won
the Junior Nationals on Sunday night with a last lap pass of Dick Sutcliffe and
on Monday night he drove away from the field to win the Third Mile Nationals.

While attempts were made to run the Third Mile Nationals
after 1973, that was the last true Third Mile Nationals for many years.
Memories of the Third Mile Nationals are awakened each year with the running of
both the Eagle Nationals and the season ending Nebraska Cup at Eagle the week
after Labor Day.

Special Thanks go to
well known Sprint Car Historian Bob Mays for his help with this story.

Preserving the history of Midwest Auto Racing

So much racing history has been made through the years right here in the Midwest.

From the rich dirt ovals in Illinois, Iowa, Missouri and Nebraska to the paved short tracks in Minnesota and Wisconsin, some of the best drivers ever to get behind the wheel of a race car competed right here in the heartland.

We all have our own story to share about our favorite driver who thrilled us everytime they rolled onto the track or that one particular race that still stands out as the greatest they ever saw.

We'll go back in history, 10, 20, 30, 40, even 50 years ago (even more) and reminisce about what has made racing in the Midwest so special for us.